BILL NUMBER: AB 769	CHAPTERED  07/03/00

	CHAPTER   63
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   JULY 3, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   JULY 3, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   JUNE 26, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   JUNE 15, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 26, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 10, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JANUARY 3, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 11, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Margett
   (Coauthor:  Assembly Member Firebaugh)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Solis and Soto)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 1999

   An act to amend Section 21655.12 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 769, Margett.  Vehicles:  preferential vehicle lanes.
   Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation to
authorize or permit exclusive or preferential use of highway lanes
for high-occupancy vehicles.  Existing law, which becomes inoperative
on July 1, 2001, and as of January 1, 2002, is repealed, requires
the department to establish those lanes on the San Bernardino
Freeway, to set the minimum occupancy level on those lanes at 2
persons, including the driver, and to complete a related study and
submit a report to the Legislature.
   This bill would instead set the minimum occupancy level on those
lanes at 3 persons, including the driver, during the peak commuting
hours of 5-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, inclusive, and
2 persons, including the driver, at all other times.
   This bill would also expand the scope of the study and report.
   The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an
urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 21655.12 of the Vehicle Code is amended to
read:
   21655.12.  (a) The Department of Transportation shall establish
exclusive or preferential use of highway lanes for high-occupancy
vehicles on that portion of State Highway Route 10 known as the San
Bernardino Freeway, and shall set the minimum occupancy level on
those lanes at three persons, including the driver, during the peak
commuting hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., inclusive, and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
inclusive, Monday through Friday, inclusive, and two persons,
including the driver, at all other times.
   (b) On or before January 1, 2001, the Department of Transportation
shall complete, and prepare and submit to the Legislature a report
regarding an operational study concerning the use of the lanes
established pursuant to subdivision (a).  That study shall include,
but is not limited to, an analysis of any discernable changes in
motorist behavior as a result of the establishment of the lanes.  The
study and report shall include an assessment of the options
available to the department in order to maximize the use of the lanes
including, but not limited to, an analysis of opening an additional
lane, installing entrances and exits on the lane or lanes, and other
feasible proposals to relieve congestion on the San Bernardino
Freeway.
   (c) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2001, and, as
of January 1, 2002, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2002, deletes or
extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.
  SEC. 2.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to relieve congestion on the San Bernardino Freeway at
the earliest possible time and to provide additional direction to the
Department of Transportation in undertaking the study and report
provided for in subdivision (b) of Section 21655.12 of the Vehicle
Code, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
